Friends 24-7 meets SAB paper...

Friends 24-7 is such a pretty stamp set.

The bird was stamped in Bashful Blue, layered on the Sahara Sand dsp from the Sale-a-Bration (SAB) Delicate Dots paper pack with a strip of the blue paper with white flowers punched with the eyelet border punch for a third layer.

The card itself is Kraft, with a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Delicate Dots on top. The corner was bent up and a Kraft corduroy button punched through just that layer for an accent.

Friends 24-7 Spring Spectacular...

Every Spring I host a Spring Spectacular. It's an event for demonstrators and customers alike. We swap, have a card contest with prizes, and make 5 projects with a single stamp set, utilizing all of the stamps.

The featured stamp set this time around is Friends 24-7.

The event was to take place last Sunday, but we got a blizzard! The snow disappeared the next day, and I've had 3 times already when people could show up at my studio to make the projects, swap, etc.

Below you'll find close-up photos of the 5 projects, in addition to directions. Enjoy!

Top Note genie bag with Friends 24-7...

This was a fun project to make using the Big Shot Top Note die and Bella Birds paper.

A small white bag (I purchase 16 for $3.29 plus a 40% coupon at Michael's - you do the math) was cut down to fit under the large ovals punched from two Close to Cocoa Top Notes. We used sticky strip to secure the sides of the bags to the Top Notes.

The Friends 24-7 bird was stamped in Brocade Blue ink, punched out with a 1 3/4" circle punch, sponged with Chocolate Chip innk and layered on a So Saffron circle cut using the Big Shot Pennant Die. It's attached with dimensionals.

The sentiment was also stamped in Brocade Blue, sponged with Chocolate Chip and adhered with dimensionals.

The final touch was adding So Saffron ribbon in a bow at the top through the ovals.

Big Shot Box #2 Friends 24-7...

I ran a half piece of 12" x 12" Parisian Breeze specialty paper (cover-weight card stock) through the Big Shot using the Box #2 die.

I CASE'd this project from http://elainescreations.blogspot.com.
I used the wide oval punch to make a window in the front of the box, then cut up a clear envelope to cover it, using mini glue dots. Robins Eggs Whopper-like candy is inside.

To finish the box, I made a medallion ("Here for You" stamped in Basic Brown ink and punched with a 1 1/4" circle punch, then layered on a 1 3/8" circle of Parisian Breeze (from the same half sheet), on top of a brown scallop circle (also from the same half sheet).

I pierced a hole through all three layers and added the medallion to the Baja Breeze ribbon with silver cord.

Friends 24-7 damask embossed card...

This Pink Pirouette card is my favorite of them all, I think. It's gorgeous in real life.

The damask image was stamped repeatedly in Craft Chocolate Chip ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

On the Whisper White layer, I stamped the damask image in Pink Pirouette for a subtle background behind the sentiment, which is also heat embossed. All corners of the white and Chocolate Chip layers were punched with the ticket corner.

A 5/8" Chocolate Chip grograin knot completes the card.

Friends 24-7 flower card...

This Very Vanilla card features Raspberry Tart designer paper and Riding Hood Red card stock.

The floral image was stamped in Basic Gray ink and colored in using a blender pen and Riding Hood Red and Certainly Celery ink pads. A little loop of ribbon was added as an embellishment.

The "Here for You" was stamped in Riding Hood Red, punched out with a 1" circle punch, layered on a 1 3/8" circle of Raspberry Tart paper, which is then layered on a designer label punch. Two Old Olive brads were added using a paper piercer and soft mat.

The designer label layers were attached to the card using dimensionals.

Friends 24-7...

This is one of the projects we'll be stamping at my Spring Spectacular tomorrow at the studio. It's a man card.

It uses the Friends 24-7 stamp set, along with some Parisian Breeze specialty paper, the new oval scallop punch (which you can purchase in the Occasions Mini Catalog April 1), spiral punch and 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain.

The bird was stamped in Baja Breeze ink, layered on Chocolate Chip card stock,then again on Baja Breeze card stock that's been sponged around the edges with Chocolate Chip ink after punching the side with the spiral punch.

The "24-7" was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink, sponged around with Baja Breeze ink and punched out with the large oval punch, then layered on the scalloped oval.

Baja Breeze Thoughts & Prayers...

This Baja Breeze card features the flowering branch from Thoughts & Prayers, along with the sentiment.

I used some Parisian Breeze specialty paper, which is cover-weight card stock. The designs are gorgeous.

The brown is Close to Cocoa, along with some Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon and a Button Latte button adhered with a glue dot.

There's the same card below in different colors.

Polka Dot Punches...

It's hard not to grab a stamp set that coordinates with our fabulous punches.

The 5-petal flower stamp from the Polka Dot Punch set (free thru March 31 with a $50 order) was stamped in Bashful Blue ink twice - once on Whisper White card stock, and again on Bashful Blue card stock. I adhered the flowers together after punching them out, pierced the center and added a So Saffron brad from the Soft Subtles pack.

The card body is Sahara Sand, which is a great neutral, and the paper is Delicate Dots designer paper. There's the 4" striped piece at the top with a strip of Sahara paper that's been punched with the eyelet border punch below that.

I added a knot of Certainly Celery ribbon, and stamped a saying from the stamp set Heard from the Heart in Basic Gray.

Petal Pizzazz...

Here are the five cards we stamped at my stamp-a-stack Sunday.

This first card uses a Kraft card base with Tangerine Tango ink, ribbon and card stock. I love this color and how bright and cheery it is!

We stamped random flowers from Petal Pizzazz on Whisper White card stock, and added Old Olive leaves. I chose the most dominant flower to sport a large circle brad.

The greeting is from the Really Retro stamp set, punched out with the Word Window punch, pierced and attached to the ribbon with silver cord.

Congrats & Pocket Silhouettes...

I loved this card idea for my stamp-a-stack Card 2, which I CASEd from Caroline LeBel's blog. It uses the Pocket Silhouettes flowers with circle punches and the Punches Plus classy brass template.

I used the ticket corner punch on the Very Vanilla layer and stamped the Congrats saying (SAB set) in Elegant Eggplant.

Though the piercing takes a bit of time, it's well worth the effort.

A Little Somethin'...

I've got Delicate Dots paper coming out of my ears, especially smaller pieces, so we put them to good use on Card 3.

The card itself is Certainly Celery. The Bashful Blue scallop is from the Big Shot pennant die. It layers perfectly behind the 1 3/4" circle.

The stamp is from the Level 2 hostess set A Little Somethin'. I used Old Olive and Bashful Blue markers to ink the stamp on Whisper White card stock.

As a final touch, the smallest flower from the Boho Blossoms punch was added with a So Saffron brad.

Owl Together Now...

Card 4 features the fun stamp set Owl Together Now, along with some Sweet Always paper and textured Pink Pirouette for the card body.

The saying and owl were stamped in Basic Brown. I used an aqua painter and Pink Pirouette pad to color in the owl (it's a girl!), and a Kiwi Kiss pad for the branch and leaves.

A spiral punch on the left side of the card adds a little interest there.

Botanical Blooms...

This is Card 5 of 5. It uses the SAB stamp set Botanical Blooms, as well as the Delicate Dots designer paper on a So Saffron card.

I CASE'd this card from another demo named Lisa Freeman. She had a couple more layers, but I like to keep my stamp-a-stack cards simple.

We used the eyelet border punch, as well as the round tab punch (the flower vase), along with a little Bashful Blue 1/4" grograin ribbon that's adhered with a mini glue dot.

The sentiment is from Trendy Trees, and it's stamped in Basic Gray.

Movers & Shapers die...

Still don't have the Big Shot? You might want to reconsider....

This Brocade Blue card was a piece of cake! I cut an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of card stock in half at 4 1/4" and stuck it in the Movers & Shapers Curly Label die. The die scores for a perfect fold line every time, and also cuts and perfs around the curly label.

When you use the Curly Label bundle (punch and Cute & Curly stamp set), all images punched with the hand punch fit inside the window made by the die. It's wonderful!

The patterned paper is from the Bella Birds pack, and layered on Chocolate Chip card stock. I used some of the So Saffron ribbon from the Sale-a-Bration ribbon bundle, then finished the card with a filigree brad with a fire circle rhinestone in the middle.

Thoughts & Prayers...

I love the rich feel of this Bravo Burgundy card.

I used the stamp set Thoughts & Prayers, stamping the image and words in Bravo Burgundy, then using the ticket corner punch on all four corners before sponging the edges with Close to Cocoa.

The specialty paper on the bottom is from the Parisian Breeze pack. And the chocolate button is from Button Latte.

Echoes of Kindness & Really Retro...

I brought my color spritzer out of the drawer to add a little textural background to this Whisper White card with bursts of Certainly Celery.

I used the Big Shot Scallop Circle #2 die to cut that layer out of Pacific Point designer paper. I added a little loop of striped Pacific Point ribbon, held in place with a white jumbo brad.

The flower from Echoes of Kindness is stamped in Basic Gray and colored in with an aqua painter and Pacific Point and Certainly Celery ink pads, with the Really Retro sentiment stamped in Certainly Celery.

Polka Dot Punch medallion...

The focal point of this Whisper White card Kim made is the Polka Dot Punch medallion.

The medallion was made by stamping the flower in Bashful Blue, punching it out with a 1 1/4" circle punch, layering it on a 1 3/8" circle punched from the blue flower paper (Delicate Dots - another free SAB item you can earn with a $50 order), then layered on a scallop circle punched from yet more SAB paper.

This Bashful Blue paper with the little white flowers is my favorite out of the Delicate Dots pack. Then there's the So Saffron ribbon from the ribbon bundle knotted over the medallion, which is adhered to the front with dimensionals.

The sentiment is from the stamp set Curvy Verses.

Playful Petals...

This 3" x 6" card stamped by Kim uses the fun flower set Playful Petals.

The card is Certainly Celery with a strip of Tea Party paper on top. It's a lovely shade of purple with white flowers that coordinate with the stamps.

Since this is March and it's still Sale-a-Bration, Kim added some celery ribbon from the ribbon bundle you can get FREE when you order $50 or more.

The flower and saying (from Stem Sayings) are stamped in Basic Gray. The flower is colored in with Almost Amethyst, So Saffront and Certainly Celery markers, with dots of Dazzling Diamonds added for some sparkle.

Big Shot/texture card #1...

This has to be my favorite card of the group.

It's a Real Red card with a layer of Basic Black and Brushed Silver. The silver has gone through the Big Shot (texturz plate Backgrounds 1) with the diamond pattern.

The handsaw and hammer are from the Totally Tool stamp set. They've been stamped in Basic Black, colored with watercolor crayons and an aqua painter, cut out and adhered with dimensionals.

The strip of black is from the Taste of Textiles pack. It looks like linen. There are two silver jumbo brads from the 5/16" Neutrals Assortment.

The "YOU ROCK" is from the Just Jawing stamp set, and the "thanks for all you do" is from the Totally Tool set. We used a stamp-a-ma-jig to line that up.

Hope you like it! These cards should give you lots of ideas of what to do with your own Big Shot machine.

Big Shot/texture card #2...

This Chocolate Chip card is yummy in person!

The Top Note is cut from textured Summer Sun card stock and then textured with the Boho-looking plate (Backgrounds 1). I used a sponge dauber in Chocolate Chip lightly over the raised areas to really make the texture pop.

The flower is an embosslit called Simple Flower. It's cut out of the rich brownish-copper paper in the Taste of Textiles pack with a Summer Sun corduroy button through the middle. It's adhered with dimensionals to the corner of the Top Note.

The saying is from Elegant Cheer. It was punched out with the wide oval punch and sponged with Chocolate Chip ink around the edges. The final touch is the 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain knotted in the middle.

Big Shot/texture card #3...

This Riding Red card features two rows of piercing at the top and bottom, along with a scallop (Big Shot die Scallop Circle #2) out of the Delicate Dots (SAB) paper.

Both the white and So Saffron ribbons are from the Ribbon Originals Dress Up. The heart was punched out of the Sweet Slumber Specialty paper, adhered onto the scallop with dimensionals.

The sentiment is stamped in Basic Black and comes from the stamp set Really Retro.

The final touch is a Lots of Tags tag (Big Shot sizzlet) cut out of So Saffron with a Button Latte stuck on with a mini glue dot.

Big Shot/texture card #4...

The Big Shot is truly a remarkable machine. We used the Beautiful Butterflies and Top Note dies, along with the texturz plate Backgrounds I to create this card.

The card is Whisper White with a layer of Delicate Dots (SAB) paper on top, sandwiched on top by a Whisper White Top Note that's been through the small polka dots texturz plate.

We stamped a little polka-dot butterfly in Bashful Blue ink from Flight of the Butterfly, along with "thank you very much."

There are two big butterflies - one out of vellum card stock (on the bottom) and the other from the blue Delicate Dots paper. A small vellum butterfly is on top. They're all stuck together with mini glue dots, and a Pretties Kit half-pearl finishes the look. The butterfly wings fan out (when not squished by my scanner!) and look fabulous! The card is finished with white organza ribbon.

Embosslit and Define Your Life...

This Whisper White card is very soft, made more so by the Cherry Blossom embosslit die for the Big Shot, which embosses and cuts out the flower at the same time.

We used a sponge dauber in Certainly Celery ink to add color to the white blossom, then added a celery brad and added it to the Delicate Dots (SAB paper) top note with dimensionals.

Defining Alphabet - the letter "G" - was stamped in Certainly Celery, with the Define Your Life definition of gratitude in Garden Green on a piece of Whisper White.

For the final step, white taffeta was knotted on the left side of the card. This was another stamp-a-stack card.

Bird on a Branch...

Bird on a Branch is a new stamp set that caught my eye. What's more, it's got designer paper - Flock Together - that compliments it perfectly! Can't ask for much more than that!

This Tempting Turquoise card features Whisper White and Creamy Caramel card stocks with Creamy Caramel and Tempting Turquoise ink pads.

We did this card at a recent stamp-a-stack. Nice, bright and simple! Gotta love that.

3 new Easter sets you can order NOW...

A new spring/summer mini catalog starts April 1, but there are Easter stamps in it, so Stampin' Up! is making those sets available NOW!

This 10-piece stamp set is called Wagon Full of Fun. (Item 113262, $34.95) It's great for those of you who like to color.

This stamp set, as well as the two below, will be offered in the Occasions Mini Catalog.

If you'd like to order one or all of these stamp sets, you'll earn Sale-a-Bration freebies and be able to get a head start on making adorable Easter cards for your friends and family.

You can order online through our Stampin' Up! websites (listed at right), or call or email us. We have orders going in all the time and accept cash, checks and credit cards.

Thanks!

An Egg-cellent Easter

This 6-piece stamp set is called An Egg-cellent Easter. (Item 113196, $21.95)

It's another set being offered by Stampin' Up! right now so you'll have plenty of time to make Easter cards. Easter is April 12 this year.

Eight Great Greetings

Eight Great Greetings is a stamp set you can order, starting today. There are eight stamps that cover Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthdays, weddings and more. (Item 113822, $27.95)

This set is also available in Spanish (Item 115421, Ocho saludos geniales) and French (Item 114643, Huit souhaits sympas) for the same price.

Remember, you can still earn a free Sale-a-Bration item for every $50 you order thru March 31.

Jumbo Outline Alphabet pages...

For my February 12" x 12" scrapbook pages, I chose photos from a recent trip to the zoo. What I love about the layout is I could fit 7 almost full-sized photos (and one of those is a 5" x 7").

In addition to the Delicate Dots Sale-a-Bration paper, I used striped Kiwi Kiss grosgrain, jumbo brads, the photo corner and round tab punches, and a Kiwi Kiss corduroy button (I love the corduroy buttons!).

The Jumbo Outline Alphabet is great for titles because you can fill in the letters to match your pages.